Foetus left inside mother for 36 years removed by Indian doctor! – World’s Longest Ectopic Pregnancy

A 60-year-old woman from the rural area of central India, got pregnant at the age of 24 but had a miscarriage because the foetus had been growing outside her uterus. She was scared of undergoing surgery to remove the remains of the foetus, and instead took medication for the pain at a local clinic.

The pain gradually subsided only to return years later. She had to at last seek medical help in a city hospital. Doctors felt a lump on her lower right abdomen and feared it could be cancer. Further tests and scans showed a calcified mass. She was living with a foetus lying in her abdomen for 36 years. This was something that was never heard of.

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

Around 12,000 ectopic pregnancies occur each year. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg gets attached to the cavity outside of the uterus (womb).

Mostly, the egg attaches itself on the fallopian tubes, but it can also attach itself on the ovaries, the cervix (neck to the womb) or another organ inside the pelvis.

Pregnancy is not possible in this case, and the egg is then removed in an operation or using medicine. It affects one in every 80-90 pregnancies.

Signs and Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy

Generally there are no symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, and are only detected when the mother goes for a routine pregnancy scan. The symptoms include:

Vaginal bleeding

Pain in the lower abdomen down one side

Missed period

Brown watery discharge

Discomfort when going to the bathroom

Pain in the tip of the shoulder

Causes of ectopic pregnancy?

Though the causes of an ectopic pregnancy are not clear, but it can occur if there is a problem with the fallopian tubes such as blockage. Listed below are some of the reasons that can increase the likelihood of getting ectopic pregnancy:

Smoking

Pelvic inflammatory disease (inflammation of the reproductive system usually caused by an STI- Sexually transmitted infection)

Older age (the risk is highest among women aged between 35-40)

A history of ectopic pregnancies

If you have had undergone fertility treatments like IVF

History of fallopian tubes surgery

Getting pregnant while using an intrauterine device (IUD) as birth control